Category: Who’s saving beavers now?

SUPPORT MOUNTING IN MONTANA

Do we think of Montana as a beaver-saving hotspot? Looking at this article I’m thinking maybe we should. Check this out:

Guest view: Recreational trapping of beavers should be banned

Wetlands are among the most critically threatened habitats that provide for high species diversity and storage of water we all depend on. Beavers create life-sustaining wetlands. Yet, Montana’s recreational trappers kill an unlimited number of beavers every year for fur and recreation.

One million animal and plant species are at imminent risk of extinction.

We need leadership now. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks could immediately suspend recreational trapping of Montana’s wildlife because the governmental agency realizes that it is urgent to start preserving wild animals. FWP administers its trapping program strictly for recreation. In Montana alone, trappers brutally kill tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of wild animals caught in leghold traps, conibears and snares, every trapping season. If these animals were allowed to survive, they would hopefully enjoy their lives, including raising a family and by doing so, fulfill important ecological functions crucial to ecosystem resilience.

Whoa! Banning recreational trapping in Montana because beavers make life-sustaining wetlands. I’m rubbing my eyes. Is this a dream? Of course that wouldn’t work here. Here in California you could ban ALL recreational trapping and fur trapping of any kind and 3000 beavers a year would still be on the hit list. We’re civilized.

California, of course, kills beavers because they’re “inconvenient” not because its fun.

In the era of climate change and accelerating extinction crisis caused by humans, the massive recreational trapping of wild animals becomes not only appallingly ludicrous but dangerous for all of us. Sir Robert Watson, IBPES chair, noted that exploitive human activity is “eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.”

Montana provides headwaters for the entire continent, but trapping has caused a steep decline of beavers (and other wild animals), which has dried up streams and wetlands for beavers to inhabit. However, there are still suitable places for reintroduced beavers to thrive — but only if traps are off the landscape.

Now this is a SMART letter. ‘Montana provides headwaters for the entire continent” is my very favorite sentence. Beavers protect and maintain those headwaters. Don’t stop trapping because it’s cruel, or icky (even thought it is). Stop killing the things that save your water. The things that could save US from climate change. This writer knows what she’s doing.

No environmental impact statement has ever been conducted to assess the major ecological impacts of removing tens of thousands of animals from their habitats by Montana trappers every year. Such a scientific assessment would likely show damaging shock waves to ecosystems. Indiscriminate trapping unravels a strong network of stability in ecosystems we depend on.

Wow! You are my new favorite human in Montana Anja! She’s a postdoctoral fellow at UM and the executive director of Footloose Montana. So she know a thing a two about her audience. I sent her the info about Mitch Wagner’s signature case arguing that beaver removal should require an EIR and let Mitch know about the article as well, but who knows, maybe they’re already best friends?

Now for some great photos from that beaver rescue i told you about yesterday in Ottawa parliament. Donna Debreuil sent them last night, and they’re excellent. i don’t know why they didn’t make it to the article but enjoy!

BEAVERS ON YOUR SIDE

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? May 11, 2019

Every now and then there is a friendly beaver story in the news accompanied by an amazing photo or two, and if its not from Martinez or Napa, or Vancouver or Port Moody, it’s from Spring Farm Cares in New York.

Spring Farm Nature Sanctuary home of preserved and restored native wildlife

Spring Farm CARES has a reputation for rescuing and caring for injured and sick farm animals and household pets, and serves as a place for them to stay for the remainder of their lives. But a “hidden gem” is the conservation work and care given to the natural wetlands and wild animals that make the 260-acre property off Route 12 their home at the Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is staffed by Naturalist Matthew Perry, who is Spring Farm CARES’ Conservation director and nature sanctuary manager. He is recognized throughout the region as an authority on wild birds, their habitat and behavior. Among his specialties are neo-tropical songbirds and Peregrine Falcons.

Perry said there is care taken in the decision of what trees and shrubs are planted on the property to help create a self-sustaining and thriving ecosystem. Certain trees, flowers, seeds and nuts provide food and sustenance for the wildlife habituating the area, such as the beavers, mink, muskrats, frogs, geese and bird varieties. Tamarack and Pussy Willow, for example, are loved by beavers, in addition to the sweet potatoes Perry feeds them. Those furry “friends” of his actually do the natural work in providing the rich, watery habitat for other mammals, fish, turtles, frogs, birds and ducks.

“They work for us, so we need to work for them,” Perry said about building and restoring the wetlands. “And if you’re going to do a wetland project on the cheap, beavers are good to have on your side.”

Yes, they are. Mighty good indeed. It’s nice when folks appreciate their neighbors. Here in Martinez for instance, we counted ourselves pretty lucky that we were able to live with beavers for a decade. And of course the creek felt lucky because it got more fish, birds and otter when the beavers made things comfortable for them.

Speaking of making things nice and comfortable, we’re off today for our friends at Wildbirds Unlimited in Pleasant Hill for their always entertaining Mother’s Day Event and wildlife day. If you’re in the market for some birdseed or a special gift, come by and say hi because they always have plenty of exhibits and the best sales today.

IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL BORROW

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? May 9, 2019

You know how it is, you rack your brain thinking up some bright idea and if you’re lucky by the time the clock hits 3 in the morning you get an inspiration. And you think, hey that might work. It might work really well. You get up your courage and tentatively launch it to the world and immediately everybody wants to borrow it.

Yesterday we got our beaver ‘yard signs’ back from GLT for the festival and were loving how they looked. I shared one photo and the incoming director of The Methow project already asked if she can use them.

My goal this year was to expand beaver education to the adult audience. I think this does it. Those are going to look so cool in the grass around the stage!

Then Fur-bearers launched their latest awesome podcast whose title you just know was a brain child of our own very original name.

Defender Radio host Michael Howie spent four days in Belleville, Ontario, where a nearly year-long process to protect beavers after one was found in a trapped reached its conclusion. The interviews included in this episode were recorded in the field with local residents, political leaders, and the inventor of the Beaver Deceiver himself, Skip Lisle. Read more and see photos by clicking here.

It’s a great interview with Doug, Skip and some other locals. My favorite part remains the shocked horror with which Doug and his neighbors greet the discovery that in this modern day and age that beavers are still brutally trapped.

I just love hearing the shock in his voice.

Oh and I’m not worried that ideas are borrowed or appropriated. The more people talking about the neat things beavers do the better, They can use, alter or window dress my ideas however they like.

Something tells me I’ll make more.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

heidi08 Who's saving beavers now? May 4, 2019

Time for an article you are going to love. It’s so good I didn’t want to squeeze it in yesterday. It needs it’s own hallowed space and attention. This is from Connecticut where our good friend Steve Straight has been hard at work making sure the next beavers that come along have a better end,

Beavers are blamed for fallen trees and flooding, and authorities are euthanizing them. Is there a better way to fix the problem?

Last month, South Windsor officials trapped three beavers and had them euthanized. The beavers had caused safety issues at a town park by gnawing on trees near the trail system, which blocked a spillway to a pond and caused flooding issues.

The trapping and killing of the beavers, one of nature’s most industrious mammals, sparked outrage among residents, with some calling for more humane treatment. State officials say they have managed Connecticut’s beaver population this way for decades. But critics say there’s a less drastic, more cost-effective manner to deal with beavers.

He said a solution could have cost the town about $2,000, and volunteers, such as local scout troops, could have helped to wrap the trees. Straight hired Mike Callahan to investigate the beaver situation at Nevers Park.

You gotta love the East Coast, where you can bring in the expert from out of state for less than a tank of gas. Unlike Martinez where we had to fly Skip 3000 miles. Well, how did it go? What did he think?

Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions LLC said his company has resolved more than 1,500 human and beaver conflicts since 1998 by using flow devices, such as culvert protective fences and beaver dam pipes. These methods allow the water to flow out of the pond created by beavers, in turn reducing flooding.

“In my experience, flow devices are the best beaver management method for approximately 75 percent of human-beaver conflicts. Where feasible, they offer the lowest overall cost, longest reliability, lowest labor and maximum environmental benefits,” Callahan said.

Callahan said a 12-inch pipe at Nevers Park would maintain a normal flow through the spillway, even if new beavers recolonize the pond and try to dam the spillway again. He said lightweight metal fencing could have been wrapped around the larger trees to prevent them from falling on the trails.

Callahan noted it would cost the town “far less to protect trees” along the trail with fencing than it would for town workers to continue to remove them. He believes beavers may recolonize the area within a year or two.

Ahhh you heard it yourself. Beavers are coming back and there are better, cheaper ways to fix things than by killing

“Fortunately, both the flooding and the tree felling concerns can be managed in a cost-effective, long-term, environmentally friendly and humane manner,” Callahan added, “which would allow the beavers to remain in the park providing environment benefits, public enjoyment and education values.”

South Windsor resident Steve Straight, who lives near the park, opposed the trapping from the start. He said the town should have investigated nonlethal methods first and needs to come up with a long-term solution.

Environment benefits, public enjoyment and education values. Let the beavers do their job. Game point. Set. Match. And the money shot?

“Let the citizens of South Windsor enjoy these fascinating creatures as they go about their work creating a tremendous ecosystem that harms no one. Let’s be clear — the beavers are not going away. And by the way, neither am I.”

How much do we love Steve? A very very lot of much, that’s how much. The best thing a beaver protector can do is be a stone in the river, making it more trouble to continue on the wrong path than it is to correct course and start on a better way. It’s of course good for the beavers, and the environment, But also for the entire community that gets to be part of a humane solution.

This is something we in Martinez particularly understand. If you haven’t seen this in a while I would just point out this is National news with Brit Hume at the end of the clip. And the flow device is already installed, You can see it in the shot over Dave’s shoulder. it’s just that no one believes it will work so the mayor of director of public works don’t even mention it.

BEAVER CIVICS LESSON

heidi08 Beavers, Who's Killing Beavers Now?, Who's saving beavers now? April 27, 2019

The sad story of Nevers park in Connecticut continues to be told. This article yesterday shows hown the town is struggling to blame miscommunication on social media for the confusion.

3 beavers gone as town, residents prepare for more

SOUTH WINDSOR — With the three Nevers Park beavers now gone, and town officials unsure if or when others will return, many residents are pushing for ways to coexist and avoid trapping or harming them.

Beavers were responsible for felling nearly 200 trees in the park last year, and Parks officials said trapping was an uncommon last resort to prevent further damage and public safety issues there.

Parks officials plan to hold a forum in the coming weeks with representatives from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a beaver specialist from Massachusetts suggested by residents upset over the way the town has handled the matter. The forum will discuss the damage caused by the creatures and how best to prevent future problems.

That’s Mike Callahan who will be explaining how to prevent flooding by using a pond leveler. Just for historical perspective out own beaver subcommittee meeting early on, maybe the second one, featured Skip Lisle talking about flow devices and how they work. He was on his way to New Mexico to do a training there, and said he could return when it was done. It was all so new to me that I can barely remember it all, but i know he stood at the back of the room, and was not invited to the podium.

Over 1,850 people have signed an online petition created weeks ago by Abbe Road resident Stephen Straight that calls for town officials to meet with the beaver specialist and implement his suggested solutions.

Straight said he is working to keep “the next beavers from being needlessly killed.”

Not all residents are on board, however.

One, who preferred not to be named as the issue has gone viral on social media, defended town officials and said the town had to make a tough decision to put residents’ quality of life first.

People spewing hate at town officials on Facebook seem to be misguided, he said, and they haven’t paid attention to the other methods of preventing tree damage and flooding that the town tried

“There were too many factors that affect public health, safety, and property in place to allow for the beavers to coexist” with Nevers Park activity, town officials said in a statement this month.

Ahhh the anonymous opposition. I remember that. At every beaver meeting there was a single dominating voice of a certain wealthy property owner who never even showed up to express his thoughts. He didn’t have to. He had made sure that ever single council member already knew them – and knew that they were intimately tied to his future campaign contributions. Money talks. Welcome to the family, looks like you got yourselves a horse race.

In an effort to dissolve misinformation about the trapping spread on social media, town officials clarified that the town did not spend any money to trap beavers, and the traps used are humane and meant to catch the animals alive without causing any injury.

Removing the beavers from this particular park was not an easy decision to make, officials said in the prepared statement, and they understand “the passion that residents have for animals.”

We would have done the right thing it was easier. Honest. As it was we trapped the beaver with pillows and cotton candy so it wouldn’t hurt them one whit. Scouts honor.

Why do reporters let them say these kinds of things? Resident Steve Straight had this to say;

I believe the reporter did her best, but the article contains inaccuracies:

First, there is no way the beavers were captured alive. We have eyewitnesses, have photos of the actual traps used. (See below.) People spoke with the trapper at the time he was trapping. The wording makes it seem as if the beavers were caught unharmed and perhaps relocated somewhere. Relocating is illegal in Connecticut.

The wording of the first sentence is unclear: “Town officials unsure if or when they will return” is very misleading. Those beavers are dead. The only questions is, What will the town do when new beavers come to the pond? Have them killed, too? And what about the beavers after them? And after them?

The system Mike Callahan would install, for $1,575, would prevent ANY flooding. The pond is naturally four feet deep, and beavers only need three. (That money could easily be raised privately.) Trees could easily be wrapped or painted.

From the reporter’s point of view, I understand how difficult it is to be accurate, especially given what town officials are saying.

I urge the town to coexist with the next beavers instead of killing them. And the next ones. And the next ones.

Steve is kinder than I could be. But I will say this much. The town needs to learn to coexist – but not just with its beavers. With its residents. With all those 1850 voters who didn’t want the beavers killed. Coexist with them. City officials can’t make them disappear by blaming social media. And they can’t jeep telling them bedtime stories by saying the beavers ‘went to live on the farm“.

Here’s a friendly reminder courtesy of our own beaver meeting and Middlechild Productions ‘Beavers las vegas‘.